As a teenager I attended a beautiful old Norfolk church. It had the traditional round tower covered in flintstones. Parts of the church dated from Norman times and the ornate woodwork was Jacobean. There were many interesting and unusual features of the church but what always made the most impression on me was the step.

As you entered the church through the south porch and opened the ancient door you needed to take care because the stone step into church was hollowed away with the passage of feet over the centuries.

I marvelled at how such a solid piece of stone could be so worn away and I marvelled at the number of people who had gone through that door. Thousands of people had, over time, made their way into that church to worship our saviour.

The verses in Hebrews 12 say it all:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…

Hebrews talks of the great patriarchs and their faith, a faith that has continued throughout time as the step reminded me. When we are tempted to give up, we need to remind ourselves of all those who have gone before us trusting in our Lord.

Enid